Biosafety workshop underway
A three-day mock application evaluation training workshop on genetically-modified organisms (GMOs) was held yesterday at the fisheries ministry's auditorium in Swakopmund.
The workshop, which was facilitated by the African Biosafety Network of Expertise (ABNE), an agency of the New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD), was convened to look into the importance of environmental safety, food safety and economic considerations pertaining to GMOs and GMO products.
Speaking at the launch, the National Commission on Research, Science and Technology (NCRST) manager of biotechnology, Paulus Mungeyi, said concepts of handling and assessing GMO applications have to be understood before decisions are made.
“Indeed, advancement in modern science and technology offers tremendous opportunities for improving the well-being of people and environment. However, it also embodies risks.
“Therefore, there is a need to ensure that adequate care is taken consciously to inform the citizenry of the benefits and processes related to this innovation,” Mungeyi said.
Namibia is in the process of ensuring that its biosafety regulations conform to international standards. According to Mungeyi, the Namibian government has long recognised the importance of biotechnology because of the enactment of the Biosafety Act, 2006 (Act no 7 of 2006), which is administered by the NCRST.
The process of drafting of regulations was undertaken in a participatory manner involving extensive stakeholder consultation and the regulations that support the implementation of the Biosafety Act of 2006 came into operation on 1 November 2016.
The objectives of the Biosafety Act include introducing systems and procedures for the regulation of genetically-modified organisms in Namibia in order to provide an adequate level of protection to the conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity. The Act also takes into account potential risks to the health and safety of humans and harmful consequences to the environment posed by genetically-modified organisms or genetically-modified products and social, cultural, ethical and economic considerations.
In addition, the Act aims to provide a framework for responsible research, development and the use of genetic engineering, and to manage the risks posed by or those that are the result of gene technology by regulating activities involving the development, production, use, import, export, transport, release into the environment, marketing and other uses of genetically-modified organisms and products.
The workshop was attended by several national and international experts.
Adolf Kaure
The workshop, which was facilitated by the African Biosafety Network of Expertise (ABNE), an agency of the New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD), was convened to look into the importance of environmental safety, food safety and economic considerations pertaining to GMOs and GMO products.
Speaking at the launch, the National Commission on Research, Science and Technology (NCRST) manager of biotechnology, Paulus Mungeyi, said concepts of handling and assessing GMO applications have to be understood before decisions are made.
“Indeed, advancement in modern science and technology offers tremendous opportunities for improving the well-being of people and environment. However, it also embodies risks.
“Therefore, there is a need to ensure that adequate care is taken consciously to inform the citizenry of the benefits and processes related to this innovation,” Mungeyi said.
Namibia is in the process of ensuring that its biosafety regulations conform to international standards. According to Mungeyi, the Namibian government has long recognised the importance of biotechnology because of the enactment of the Biosafety Act, 2006 (Act no 7 of 2006), which is administered by the NCRST.
The process of drafting of regulations was undertaken in a participatory manner involving extensive stakeholder consultation and the regulations that support the implementation of the Biosafety Act of 2006 came into operation on 1 November 2016.
The objectives of the Biosafety Act include introducing systems and procedures for the regulation of genetically-modified organisms in Namibia in order to provide an adequate level of protection to the conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity. The Act also takes into account potential risks to the health and safety of humans and harmful consequences to the environment posed by genetically-modified organisms or genetically-modified products and social, cultural, ethical and economic considerations.
In addition, the Act aims to provide a framework for responsible research, development and the use of genetic engineering, and to manage the risks posed by or those that are the result of gene technology by regulating activities involving the development, production, use, import, export, transport, release into the environment, marketing and other uses of genetically-modified organisms and products.
The workshop was attended by several national and international experts.
Adolf Kaure
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